Archive for month: October, 2016

https://tring.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Capture-2222222.jpg436313Helen Robertshttps://tring.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/newlogo3.pngHelen Roberts2016-10-19 12:35:152016-10-19 12:36:45Storytelling in the LRC for students ... and staff!

Tring School students have been trialling Google’s new Expeditions technology, enabling them to embark on round-the-world trips from the comfort of the classroom. This initiative has been successfully led by Nigel Barlow, Assistant Head and Chris Lickfold, Director of Learning.

On 4 October, students at Tring School virtually visited the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Mount Everest, The Grand Canyon and the International Space Station! They were also taught a geography lesson from inside a volcano and a science lesson from inside the human circulatory system.

After “visiting” Barcelona one year 7 student said “I found it amazing! It felt like you were actually there!”

Google Expeditions is virtual reality software. Teachers send three-dimensional, 360 degree panoramas from a mobile device, to each student’s cardboard viewer and point out areas of interest, encouraging interactive learning. Students gain a real insight into the places they are visiting and the topics being studied. Google is developing Expeditions content for the whole breadth of the school curriculum to enhance the student learning experience.

Commenting on this exciting new software, head teacher Sue Collings said:

“Google Expeditions is going to be a fantastic addition to the classroom. It makes learning come alive in a way that really engages and inspires children. To see ‘first hand’ the damage that is being done to Machu Picchu by international tourism and the effects of pollution on the Great Barrier Reef is revolutionary. Not only is this very exciting for the children, it will also enhance their thirst for learning.”

Tring School as a Google Reference School will be seeking to fully embrace the Expedition technology over the coming months.

Community minded Sixth Form students from Tring School have taken it upon themselves to help clear up their local community. Pupils from the school give up their lunch time to don their fluorescent jackets and go out with litter pickers to collect rubbish to help keep the town clean & tidy.

Head of Sixth Form, Sally Kay said “We’re really pleased that our students are taking responsibility for their community. Students at Tring School are conscientious and want to support one another to keep the town tidy. The litter warriors scheme is completely student led and has so far been highly successful.”

Nine Masai Warrior dancers made a surprise visit to Tring School this week. The dancers are from tribes in Kenya & Tanzania and are in the UK on a 10 week tour visiting schools and community events to raise money to take back to their homes to fund schooling for the children and make improvements to their villages including wells for fresh water. The warriors have all left behind their own families to come to the UK, with only half of them speaking English.

The students were treated to several dances by the warriors, who were all in full traditional dress, including a dance they would do before they go hunting for lions & also demonstrated their ability to mimic various animal noise. A number of pupils were encouraged by the warriors to join in with the iconic Masai jumping dance.

Assistant Head Andrew Dobberson said ” we are incredibly lucky to have had the Masai visiting our school. The students were all intrigued by them and their culture which is so different to our own. One parent said her son ” was absolutely fascinated and we had a lengthy discussion over dinner. What an amazing opportunity, thank you so much!”. We were very glad it was a beautiful sunny day as the warriors had said that they love the English people but not the cold weather”

Maddy Neil, one of our sixth form students who organised the Macmillan coffee mornings shared some fantastic news about the event.
“A huge thank you to everyone who donated their time, money and cake to our stalls in the church yard and in school. An especially big thanks to all the local businesses which donated cakes for us to sell. Altogether we raised £840 for a fantastic cause: thank you so much!”
Tring School Sixth Form